Extra Part in Oil Pan

Mrbill4108 · April 17, 2007, 05:22:35 PM

Hey guys,

I need your expert opinions here. I pulled off my oil pan on my 8v71 and found this small clip inside of it. It reminds me of a keeper for a wrist pin for a piston but I can't believe that Detroit would use something this small for the engine but maybe the air compressor? It does not have many marks on it, just a few very small ones that look like they would have been made during an installation. So if it came from the air compressor I would think that the gears would have played havoc on it.

Anyone have an idea as to where it came from?

Thanks for your inputs,

Mrbill4108

Hartley · April 17, 2007, 05:43:25 PM

I looked through the engine parts listing for the 8V71 and could only guess that ring could
either be from a piston wrist pin retainer or the bearing retainer from the water pump drive shaft.

Or, If that engine was rebuilt somewhere along it's life it could be from anywhere and maybe just
fell into the pan from some careless mechanics fumble.

Guys doing in-frames can and do drop parts into the engines, Like bolts, springs, washers and tools
or an old part that fell off while being taken apart.

That's all I have... Sorry...

kyle4501 · April 17, 2007, 06:20:33 PM

I wish I could provide some real help, but all I can do is share what a wise old mechanic told me,
"sonny, if you don't have to, never take the oil pan off a good running engine - unless you want to find out something you would rather not know".

I can't tell you how many times that has proven to be true.

Good luck & I hope it is nothing to be concerned with.

Mrbill4108 · April 17, 2007, 07:00:17 PM

I think I know where it came from now.
After looking throught the engine manual......

Looks like a spring keeper off one of the push rod springs.

What do ya think?

Mrbill4108

ChuckMC8 · April 17, 2007, 07:03:20 PM

I think you're right, Mr. Bill. Pull off a valve cover and you should see where it was lost from.

Hartley · April 17, 2007, 08:31:50 PM

Hmmm... Looks about right...

Busted Knuckle · April 17, 2007, 08:34:14 PM

By golly I think ya'll have figured it out. BK

TomC · April 17, 2007, 10:32:19 PM

Make sure you do it right away. I had that happen to me with my first truck that had a 8V-92 in it. The keeper broke and then caused the lifter and rod to bang around and eventually take out the injection push rod. While I was able to drive it home from New York with 7 cylinders alright, nothing could be done with the head since it was so banged up, another retainer could not be installed. Hence a new $1500 head. Need I say more? Good Luck, TomC

Jeremy · April 18, 2007, 01:48:00 AM

Quote from: kyle4501 on April 17, 2007, 06:20:33 PM
I wish I could provide some real help, but all I can do is share what a wise old mechanic told me,
"sonny, if you don't have to, never take the oil pan off a good running engine - unless you want to find out something you would rather not know".

I can't tell you how many times that has proven to be true.

Good luck & I hope it is nothing to be concerned with.

There is an old trick in sailing occasionally used to 'distract' the opposition - as their boat passes close to yours you surreptitiously throw a broken pop-rivet or stainless-steel screw into their sail. The broken rivet slides down the sail into the boat - the crew of the boat assume it has come from the mast, and suddenly have bigger things to worry about than racing against you

Jeremy

tomhamrick · April 18, 2007, 05:41:23 AM

I also looks like the ring that holds the blower drive shaft in place on my 6V92. Don't know if the 8V has the same thing. If it comes off it drops down in the flyweel area and according to the manual if you are lucky it will continue to the oil pan. How could a keeper on a push rod find it's way to the oil pan? Is the oil return big enough for that?
Tom Hamrick
1984 Eagle 10S

buswarrior · April 18, 2007, 06:12:45 AM

Don't panic too much until you have reason to.

Dropped part during engine surgery, mechanic hears it make bottom, just gets another one from the parts room, leaves it in the bottom to shock the next one to open the pan.

I know some who will slip something into the pan on purpose, just for the fun of it.

Not the best, but something a much more discerning busnut will find alarming, unless we know.

happy coaching!
buswarrior

Sammy · April 20, 2007, 06:45:22 PM

My guess is the same as Tom's - blower shaft retaining clip.
Sometimes it's tricky to install it properly, I usually have a few extra on hand before installation.
I have lost a few in my career, LOL.
Sammy